What is "faculae"

Faculae \Fac"u*l[ae]\, n. pl. [L., pl. of facula a little torch.] (Astron.) Groups of small shining spots on the surface of the sun which are brighter than the other parts of the photosphere. They are generally seen in the neighborhood of the dark spots, and are supposed to be elevated portions of the photosphere.
--Newcomb.

n. (plural of facula English)

See facula

1. n. a bright spot on a planet

2. a large bright spot on the sun's photosphere occurring most frequently in the vicinity of sunspots

3. [also: faculae (pl)]